My High School Helper : The Challenges Of My High School Helper

Transitioning from middle school to high school now college. Hardships and victories I have experienced it all. I have gone from the shy student to one of the most involved and active student in my school.

Senior year hit me like a truck. I went to a summer camp called “Camp Quest,” that is when everything changed. I did not know anyone else attending this camp and taking the social jump to attend scared me more than anything in my life. I had stayed in my comfort zone my whole life, but going to this camp made me step out of it. I had to force myself to actually go talk to people.

The first three months of junior year were very stressful and I’ve never been under so much stress before and it became overwhelming. I missed my parents and it was hard for me to live

Contemplating back on my high school journey, I began to recognize and appreciate the life changes I experienced and the imperative lessons I learned throughout those four years. If I had to choose several words to describe my high school experience, I would begin with eventful, challenging, and memorable. High school afforded me many experiences that continuously led to stressful and challenging encounters. Being involved with the Ambassador Program and the National Honor Society was one of the greatest decisions I made in high school. Both clubs provided me with numerous life-changing opportunities that will continue to have an impact on me for a lifespan.

Being diagnosed with ADHD, learning in school became difficult for me. In the middle of third grade my life completely changed. My mother got a job opportunity and moved my family to Mentor. I was so excited to move to a new place, start a new school and make new friends. I didn't like my old school because the teachers and students always compared me to my sister.

By junior year of high school, I was faced with the most challenging atmosphere that I have ever experienced. In November of

Life recurrently hands everyone challenges. March 2015 was a time that I now look back on as a learning experience, a period that not only challenged my strength, but showed me that I was capable of handling anything. It was when my five-year battle with scoliosis was finally put to an end due to a procedure called spinal fusion. Going through major surgery has been one of the most challenging experiences in my life thus far, and still scars me with a slew of painful memories. The restless hospital nights-in which I was up all night in agonizing pain-or the embarrassing days of learning how to walk again-are things I will never forget, despite my constant efforts to try. Being a freshman in high school was already hard enough, and missing

Before I knew it, I was starting my junior year of high school. That is when I realized the surgery was negatively impacting my studies. I was now getting homework and my grades were slipping due to the fact that all my attention was going to my surgery and not my school work. With the help of my parents and friends, I was able to make a complete turnaround and build my grades up to the point where I was able to make the honor roll.

My sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school were not normal. I was in and out of hospitals and doctors’ offices with health problems. Those three years of my life were the hardest times I’ve ever dealt with. My high school hated that I missed so much school and they even tried to kick me out. They forced their hands over mine and pushed as the pen began to hit the paper that was my existence.

High School was hard for me. Not in terms of course work but emotionally it was difficult. I had no guidance and had an overwhelming feeling of being an outcast. My bi-racial heritage—African American and Irish—made it difficult for me to fit in with any one ethnic group and exacerbated the feeling of isolation. Eventually I found the solace of alcohol and drugs and from there I began to drift. I dropped out in eleventh grade and spent a year in an out-patient program meeting regularly with a consulor and therapist. During this time, seduced by the plaintive moans of the blues, I taught myself to play guitar, a skill that would prove life saving in the dark years ahead. The next year I found my way back to a new school and graduated on time, but my problems with drugs and

Throughout high school, I have had some bumps in the road, but after I made it through these setbacks I grew from their challenges. Which also made me realize how important education really is, and how education must be taken seriously. High School also really has made me realize how much my education really means to me. During my senior year, I have challenged myself more and more by taking more classes that will benefit my college experiences and future. I am taking two more math classes, along with an extra science class.

Losing friends, meeting new people, first job, first car, boyfriend, getting my license. Throughout the last four years of high school I’ve experienced a lot of new things and learned a lot on the way. I remember walking into school on the first day of freshman year; I was thinking that these are going to be a very long couple of years. I was wrong; these past four years have gone by so fast, so I guess my dad was right when he said they’d fly by.

My first year of high school was filled with adventures and difficulties throughout the years. Comparing to my other years, I took challenges, such as taking on sports while finding the time for my school works and achieving my goals. However, I was able to find the way and fight through my freshman year.

The most significant challenge I have faced was balancing my academics and sports. I have been involved in the boy's soccer program at Palm Desert High School since my freshman year and each season has proven to be a test for me academically. I must say that attempting to balance my school work and soccer during my freshman and sophomore year has taken a toll on my academic achievement. It is unfortunate, however, I learned many things that will benefit me in the future. It was difficult because stress and anxiety amounted on top of all the school work and assignments that needed to be completed with the little time I had in my hands. Each season lasted around four months and during those four months, I accumulated bad habits. I procrastinated

High school was a rough time for me as I’m sure it is for many teens. I made it harder on myself because I didn’t try my hardest. For example, when a huge exam was coming up I wouldn’t read all the material. Instead, I would high light and